Santa confessed to me, on the second day,
that she had felt--and, she believed, could feel--nothing more
dreadful. As she put it, 'You see, my friend, when the sky lightens
at length, you have assurance of God, and that God is help.
Then, when He sends up no help, but a great staring sun to watch your
misery, hour by hour, God turns to devil and you only long for
night--when, at least, the dew falls.'
"Between sunset and sunrise, however, I was kept fairly busy.
For the _Eurotas_ had scarcely been twenty minutes under water, and
night had barely fallen, before the captain's boat ranged up to us.
She carried a lantern in her bows, and I had found one and was
lighting it after his example.
"'Names on board!' he demanded. We gave them through Grimalson, the
second mate, who was in charge. He said no more for about half a
minute, during which time no doubt he was running through the list in
his head. Then, 'That's all right,' he announced cheerily.
'You'll set watches, Mr. Grimalson, and keep her in easy hail.
The weather will certainly hold fine for a bit, and early to-morrow
I'll be alongside again with instructions.
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